Welcome to our newsletter, where we provide you with the latest from Digital Telecare for Scottish Local Government. In this edition, we bring you a recap of the events within the Digital Telecare Programme over the past month, along with insights of upcoming activities.
If you have any queries regarding any of the content within this newsletter, please get in touch.
Scottish Telecare Information Framework – Innovative Telecare, Powered by Data
We are delighted to announce the rollout of the Scottish Telecare Information Framework (TIF). This national initiative will assist in modernising telecare services through standardised, high-quality data. The TIF enables real-time sharing, faster response times, and better integration with health and social care systems.
The TIF is now being embedded into the Shared Alarm Receiving Centre, and will support proactive, person-centred care and strengthens collaboration across services. We invite all Telecare Service Providers and Alarm Receiving Centre providers to adopt the framework and help shape a more efficient, digitally connected future for telecare in Scotland.
Aberdeen City HSCP and Bon Accord Care Awarded Gold Level Two Digital Telecare Implementation Award and Join the Shared ARC Alongside Aberdeenshire HSCP and Moray HSCP.
Aberdeen City Council along with their partners- Bon Accord Care, Aberdeen City HSCP, Aberdeenshire HSCP and Moray HSCP have successfully implemented the Shared ARC Platform!
This milestone enables over 13,000 telecare users to transition from analogue to digital landlines, significantly improving reliability, responsiveness, and the overall quality of care. The digital upgrade ensures continued life-saving support with enhanced efficiency and resilience across the region.
In recognition of their efforts, Aberdeen City Council, Bon Accord Care, and Aberdeen City HSCP have been awarded the Gold Level Two Implementation Award. This accolade celebrates the successful rollout of a live digital telecare service to 50% of users.
Digital Telecare Programme Launches 'Scottish Telecare: A Sector in Transition'
As Scotland continues its transition from analogue to digital telecare, the Digital Telecare Programme is proud to announce the launch of Scottish Telecare: A Sector in Transition. This is a strategic initiative, designed to capture a comprehensive and accurate picture of telecare service delivery across the country.
This review comes at a critical time and with the PSTN switch-off deadline fast approaching, the programme has observed a notable decline in telecare connections, particularly within housing environments. The evaluation aims to investigate the underlying causes of this reduction, validate current service user data, and support providers in rebuilding service numbers where needed.
The Digital Telecare team will be engaging with Telecare Service Providers (TSPs) and Housing Associations to gather insights and confirm data accuracy. This collaborative effort will ensure the review reflects the realities on the ground and supports a unified approach to digital transformation.
TSPs will be contacted soon with guidance on how to contribute, your input is vital to shaping the future of telecare in Scotland.
Aberdeenshire HSCP Awarded Gold Level Two Digital Telecare Implementation Award
Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership has been awarded the Gold Level Two Digital Telecare Implementation Award.
This recognises their successful rollout of live digital telecare to over 50% of service users, operating smoothly for more than six weeks.
The team at Aberdeenshire HSCP continues to make strong progress across a vast and rural region, overcoming connectivity challenges and advancing Shared ARC integration.
Aberdeenshire HSCP is on track to complete its analogue upgrade by 31st October.
Congratulations to the team as they work towards the Platinum Award!
The UK’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), including copper analogue services delivered by Openreach, is being phased out. All PSTN-based services—business lines included—must transition to digital before Openreach retires analogue infrastructure in January 2027. Importantly, exchange closures will begin before this final deadline.
This change has significant implications for organisations using telecare and Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) monitored systems—such as fire, lift, intruder alarms, and door entry panels managed remotely. These systems must be upgraded or replaced well ahead of the switch-off, with preparations needed throughout 2025 and 2026.
Across Scotland, councils and housing associations are working with suppliers to implement digital solutions. However, the transition is complex, as resident needs shift from supported services to more independent, choice-based models.
The Digital Telecare Programme is actively supporting this transition. We’re working with councils, housing associations, suppliers, and ARC providers to configure secure digital telecare systems. While some housing providers are exploring interim options like BT’sPre-Digital Phone Lines (PDPL), these are not universally available and come at a higher cost—ultimately delaying the inevitable move to full digital services.
We’re asking all 23 ARC Providers/Managers to help build a clear national picture of monitored alarm connections:
Create a report listing all councils or organisations with monitored alarm connections. If possible, include the number of links per entity.
Email your report to: digitaltelecare@digitaloffice.scot
Digital Telecare Playbook Spotlight
This month’s spotlight features one key update to support Telecare Service Providers:
Sol Connect
At the August TSP meeting, Donna Thompson delivered an insightful show and tell session on Sol Connect, a digital telecare solution designed to enhance independence and safety for users. Her presentation explored how the platform enables remote monitoring and personalised support, helping individuals maintain independence while ensuring intervention when needed.
The session highlighted key features of Sol Connect, including its adaptability across care settings and its role in streamlining communication between service users and responders.
Virgin Media O2 will permanently withdraw inbound roaming services on its 2G and 3G networks from 1st October 2025.
This change will affect all devices using 2G/3G inbound roaming SIMs, with early switch-offs already occurring for certain Legrand alarm devices. Service providers are urged to ensure their equipment is compatible with VoLTE or alternative digital solutions to maintain continuity of care.
Approximately 500,000 telecare devices across the UK are still reliant on 2G, including around 50,000 in Scotland, making this transition critical.
GO Awards
Congratulations to Chubb Community Care, who have been selected as finalists for this year’s GO Awards Scotland in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the National Shared Alarm Receiving Centre (Shared ARC) Programme.
This achievement reflects Chubb’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and delivering high-quality digital telecare solutions that make a meaningful impact across communities in Scotland.
The GO Awards celebrate excellence in public procurement, and Chubb’s role in the Shared ARC Programme has been pivotal in driving forward sector-wide transformation.
Finalists will be honoured at the awards ceremony on the 28th October at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow.
Funded Learning Opportunity – PDA in Technology Enabled Care (Starting Jan 2026).
Applications are now open for 100 fully funded places on the Professional Development Award in Technology Enabled Care at SCQF Level 7, starting in January 2026.
Delivered online in partnership with UHI Perth College, this flexible, self-directed qualification is funded by the Scottish Government and COSLA and led by the Digitally Enabled Workforce Team at NHS Education for Scotland.
The PDA in TEC is ideal for people working in frontline roles across health, social care, social work, and housing, including those working in care at home, care homes, or other community settings in the public, independent and third sector.
Applications close at midnight on Sunday 26 October.
Join us for the Tunstall Programming Workshop, taking place on the 2nd of October 2025 at 9:30am- 11:00am.
The session will deepen your understanding of the IP transition and its impact on operational processes.
Key topics include Lifeline Digital with Dual SIM functionality, pre-installation preparation, SIM re-roaming, DMP monitoring dashboard, creating and applying IP templates, firmware requirements, and the use of both ethernet and cellular templates.
Attendees will also learn about automated unit health notifications, inputting ID numbers via DMP and the Tunstall+ app, and the process for raising support tickets in the event of alarm failures. This hands-on workshop is ideal for anyone involved in digital telecare service delivery and aims to ensure a smooth and resilient transition to IP-based systems.
The TEC Housing Conference returns on 22 October 2025 at Hampden Park, Glasgow, bringing together leaders from housing, health, and care under the theme “TECH is a Team Sport.” The event will focus on teamwork, leadership, and strategy in driving digital transformation across Scotland’s housing sector.
Sharon Hannah from the Digital Office will present a workshop tailored for housing associations, sharing how the Digital Telecare team is driving digital transition and innovation in housing and telecare services. With additional insights from LGDO and Nicky Scally from Edinburgh HSCP, the conference will explore how shared infrastructure and performance data can support ethical innovation, system learning, and collaborative improvement across the sector.
TPI Scotland Connect will feature a dynamic and engaging programme of expert speakers that will deliver practical knowledge and the tools to navigate the latest Factoring policies and procedures. Join us for a day of learning, inspiring and connecting.
Sharon Hannah, our Digital Telecare Project Manager will be presenting a session, 'Destination Digital'. She will show a trusted roadmap of how Housing Associations and Property Managers can go digital, with guidance and support from the Digital Telecare Programme.
She will navigate you through the different steps by sharing time-savings planning processes for getting to the finish line - 'Destination Digital'.
Join us at DigiFest Scotland 2025, the flagship national conference for digital health and social care, taking place on Thursday, 11 December in Glasgow.
Organised by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre and delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland, in association with Futurescot as our event delivery partner, DigiFest is the official event for everyone shaping the future of health and care across Scotland. From NHS teams to social care providers, housing and third sector organisations, local authorities, Health & Social Care Partnerships and research communities—this is your space to connect, share, and lead.
This year, DigiFest arrives at a critical moment.
December 2025 marks the start of the national rollout of the Digital Front Door programme—beginning in NHS Lanarkshire. This transformative initiative will revolutionise how citizens access health and social care services, giving people easier, faster and more intuitive digital pathways to the care and support they need.
Whether you’re delivering services on the frontline, designing better systems behind the scenes, or researching the next generation of care models, DigiFest is where it all comes together.
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